“To love what you do and feel that it matters -- how could anything be more fun?”

– Katharine Graham (1917-2001)

Hit # 40,000 was made sometime on the afternoon of Friday, November 4, 2005 by Steve Silsby (Ferguson HS - '72) of NC!

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/page-hits.html

Carol,
The attached pictures were sent to me from    Todd Givens ('65 - of Northern VA) for my approval before I sent them to you. I cropped picture number 1 and number 2 to make them a little more pleasing for the website. I had to resize number 3 before I could do anything with it. I have no idea why I had to do it when the other 2 were large also but did not refuse to be copied to a disk in preparation for sending it to you. LOL There was nothing wrong with Todd's pictures of us. LOL I guess it was just the subjects.

Edna
 

   
   I'm sorry this has taken me so long to process, Edna.  There's something about the words, "Zip file" that causes me to scream and panic.  

   "AAIIIEEEE - a ZIP file!!!"  

   No reason, just my policy.........

   (Well, that, and the fact that I never am very successful at extracting anything from Zip files......)

   But thanks, Edna!   I'm glad I finally called in my local expert (also known as my daughter, Adrienne) who opened it for me!  (Thanks, Adrienne!)  And thank you, Todd!

   Sometime between 1980 and 1984, I took a mini-class in cake decorating, using those Wilton cake pans.  I'm not sure I have all the facts straight in this story, because I tried so hard to forget.  I think it was for Brent's ninth birthday in April of 1981, I decided to make him a gorgeous R-2-D-2 birthday cake, covered with those pretty little stars. 

   As you know, the secret is in having the icing thick enough to hold its shape.  I wasn't really worried, because I had just taken that class.  But alas, I did not have the icing thick enough, and all the icing began to run together.  I fell completely apart, as though my entire worth as a Wife, Mother, and Human Being had just been destroyed in one liquid sweep.  I ended up having to spread the frosting and paint R-2's likeness on him, and I fell sobbing in a heap under the kitchen table.

   No one seemed to understand the problem.  They all thought the cake was beautiful, and I alone was devastated.

   To compound it, when Back to School night arrived five months later, Brent had to prepare a little booklet about all the members of his family.  When he got to Mom, he said (and beautifully illustrated!) something like, "My mom is so funny.  My favorite memory of her is the time she made me a beautiful birthday cake, but she thought it was ugly and wouldn't stop crying."

   I think this was about the time I became an anti-cook, and decided to devote my time to sewing, crocheting, cross-stitching and scrapbooking - things that would last for generations.  Cooking takes the same amount of time, but quickly disappears, and leaves me fat in its wake.  Where's the justice?!?

   Thanks for the memories, Jean!

The year was either 1955 or 56 and it was River Drive Apartments – we faced 73^rd Street.  Moi?  Dressed as a witch? Somehow I don’t “member dat.”   

   Oh, yes, let me "'member you"!  I'm gonna go with '55 here, and the reason will be obvious.  You were wearing a "store bought" witch costume, complete with mask.  We were cruising around the apartments alone together while our parents all stayed back at yours.  We had strict orders not to go inside, no matter what anyone said. We reached one apartment where a young couple was sitting all curled up lovey-dovey on a sofa watching tellybision.  The husband answered the door, and the wife kept trying to coax us inside so she could have a better look at our costumes.  She had her legs all pulled up on the couch, and we obviously arrived at the door at a fun moment.  Well, we knew we couldn't come in, and she didn't want to get up, so she said, "Let's have a look at those lips."

   I, of course, knew she wanted to see my lovely red wax lips, but I was shy, so I pushed you closer.  Your witch mask didn't even have any lips!  It was just a slit in the stiffened fabric.  So the gal said, "No, the other one!" and I knew I was had, so I stepped back into the doorway quickly, she dissolved in peals of laughter, her husband joined her, and we scampered away.

   So obviously, it was 1955, and I was eight and you were nine, because yo' mama was pressed for time from the recent move, and bought you a costume, rather than making one of her magnificent creations, as she did the next year!  TA-DAH!!  Another mystery solved!

I do remember you in the gypsy costume & lips though – I only remember dressing as Martha Washington – because I remember my mother making the wig out of quilt batting – we lived there about 18 months – but perhaps we were there 2 Halloween seasons – then we moved to Belle View Apartments in Alexandria (you know in that great state of Northern Virginia) he he – we were there about 18 months as well – then moved to Williamsburg – as I began the 7^th grade at what was then James Blair High School  in 1958 -  which reminds me – do you remember our house on Wickre Avenue (technically in James City County)  when we would play hiding upstairs and you marveled at the way I could ingeniously drape myself in a scarf, blanket, etc. then stand in full view and you could never find me!  GIGGLES! “Member Dat?”

   Well, of course, I 'member dat!  It was so humiliating, how could I forget?  You had a simply marvelous attic, and we would play hide and seek endlessly, until all the great hiding places were gone.  Then I would give it my best shot, but you would always find me instantly, whereas you would stand right out in plain sight draped in practically nothing, and I couldn't see you at all - just like in a cartoon or something!  Not that I was a dweeb or anything...

Do want to thank you and the other Reunion committee members for allowing us to “crash” your reunion – we had a wonderful time - was great seeing you and Eleanor and meeting some of your friends.  Just sorry we missed  Cheryl Mays Howard ('66 - of VA), and    Fred ('60) &   Patti (Andrews - '61) Mays (of VA).

Also,    Carol &   Eleanor, thank you so much for visiting Beryl & Walter!!  They enjoyed the visit.
 

Oh, Cheryl, we had the most delightful visit with your mama and daddy!
We were so happy that Don (Wilson - John Marshall HS - '64 - of VA)
had drawn us that map so that we were able to stop and see them!

Walter walked us back downstairs afterward, and we told him about the
ten-minute giggle fest which had beset us just before we went inside,
but the two gentlemen who had incredulously witnessed the whole thing
were blessedly gone by that time.

OK, now, is your brain back on track?

   Lady, my brain hasn't been on track in so many years, it's pathetic!  But we did solve one more of Life's Mysteries!   

Take care,

Love,

Cheryl

   Thanks, Cheryl!

WOWZERS, Steve!  Thanks!
This is actually a larger copy of the same image which    Dave Spriggs ('64) of VA gave us on 10/29/03.  It's been posted since that time:

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/old-stomping.html

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/OOSG-C-G.html

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/railway-shipyard.html
 

John W. Daniel School is clearly visible in the background.

Okay, here's the deal. 
We'll have a brand new section next week called "Our Old Car Dealerships" - not to be confused with "Our Old Cars".

I would try to design and post this section for y'all today,
but I 'm afraid I have waaaay too much going on this weekend.

   Besides, this gives me time to think.

  Thanks, Babe!  Maybe I'll alternate the junior and senior portraits, then! 

   Thanks again, Tommee!
 

Good Morning Carol,

  Todd Givens ('65 - of Northern VA) was really nice to send these pictures taken at the reunion of myself and a few of our fellow classmates. I hope you enjoy them. It was really nice seeing you and the rest of our friends there. It was a great time and I look forward to the next special event. Take care.

Jim of Nebraska
 

   One of these first days I'm actually going to make the Reunion Pictures pages so these images can be found all in one place.......

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/old-stomping.html

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/OOSG-C-G.html

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/ferry.html

Carol,

I just wanted to say "Hi" and let you know again how much my sister,    Sarah (Stewart Vance - '69 - of VA), and I enjoy your website.

 

I hate that we were not able to attend the reunion, but we both really enjoyed all of the information and the pictures!

   I was so sorry that y'all didn't make it too, Glenda!  I was really looking forward to seeing you both again.  Let's just all plan ahead for next year! 

 

Thank you again for all of the hard work that you put into the daily newsletters and I want you to know that you can't possibly know how much we enjoy them! 

   Thank you; I wish I could explain to ya'll how deeply honored I feel in being able to do this.  It brings tears to my eyes whenever I try.

You are a really special person and I can't wait to meet you in person.  I remember you from high school, but I was only a freshman and I know you do not remember me - so until then . . . .

   Oh, Glenda, you must be kidding!  I remember you and your sister quite well!  You were two of the cutest little doll babies in the whole school.  How could anyone forget you?  I remember (probably more than once!) walking with a group of girls down the hall, passing y'all, saying "Hi", and then one of us remarking, "I wonder how it would be to be that cute?!?"

 Take care and I look forward to hearing from you soon.  Please tell   Dave and    Pam (Smith Arnold - both '65 - of VA) how much we all enjoyed their pictures too!

 

November 14th will be my birthday - just what I always wanted to be - 56!!!!  Ha!! 

http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/Happy-Birthday.html

 

I especially liked  the pictures of Jerry ('65) and    Judy (Phillips '66 - Allen - of VA) - Brenda's sister.  I know she would have enjoyed the reunion so much.

 

Again, take care,

 

Glenda

   Thanks, Glenda!  It's always fun to hear from you!

   Thanks so much, Fred!  I love the education I receive from reading your notes!